Main Street Live program returns this Friday night

By LISA HOBBS Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

OJ Cummins Big Band Sound will be the first of 13 bands to liven up Friday nights in downtown McMinnville during the Summer Concert Series offered by Main Street McMinnville.

Clear your calendars, because it?s back! From June through August, Main Street Live will once again offer its Summer Concert Series. What better way to jump start Main Street Live 2006, than to have O.J. Cummins? Big Band Sound begin the festivities after ending last summer?s festivities with a bang.

The Big Band sound is a 21-piece swing band. The group plays an average of 18 private and public performances throughout the year. Included in the performances are monthly dances held at the Fairfield Glade Civic Center in Fairfield Glade, on the second Saturday of every month.

During his musical career, Cummins founded the Dayton, Ohio Jazz Society, 1970-77, which was a 20-piece orchestra. Cummins continues to write, arrange and compose music for the orchestra, as well as perform with his small group, “The Four Horns,” a group available for more intimate settings.

After work relocated him to this area in 1978, Cummins founded the Big Band in 1996 and is also currently the band leader. Cummins also arranges the music for the band as well as playing the piano, drums, clarinet and tenor saxophone.

Some of you may even recognize Mike Chilcutt playing the trumpet. He is a local musician and a retired band director. Along with the Big Band Sound, Chilcutt is involved with the 4-Horn group, is the lead/jazz with the South Jackson Street band, and conducts his church choir.

More information on Cummins and the Big Band Sound can be seen on their Web site at www.bigbandsound.org.

O.J. Cummins? Big Band Sound will kick off Main Street Live on June 2 at 7 p.m. at the West Lawn of Security Federal. Food and beverage vendors are open at 6 p.m. The event is free and sponsored by River Park Hospital, Dr Pepper Bottling Company of McMinnville, the Law Offices of Galligan and Newman, Ben Lomand TV, Clear Channel Radio and the Southern Standard, your source for local news.